WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/CAN/484 
15 November 2010  
 (10-6098) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Notifying Member:  CANADA
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:  Health Canada 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Ready-to-eat foods (ICS Code:  67.040) 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:    
5. Title of the notified document:  Policy on Listeria monocytogenes  in Ready-to-Eat Foods 
(2010)  Language:  English and French  Number of pages:  74 and 82   
6. Description of content:  Health Canada has updated the 2004 policy on Listeria 
monocytogenes  in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods, in view of enhancing the control of Listeria  in 
high-risk foods.  The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance regarding industry 
verification and control, as well as regulato ry oversight and compliance activities of RTE 
foods with respect to their potential to support the growth of Listeria monocytogenes .  More 
specifically, the revised policy differs from the 2004 version in that:  
(a) New end-product compliance criteria have been developed.  These are in line with 
the International Codex Alimen tarius Commission standards; 
(b) The definitions of RTE foods in which growth of L. monocytogenes  can or cannot 
occur have been modified and/or devel oped.  Validation data to support the 
categorization of RTE foods (i.e., Categor y 2A or 2B) are to be reviewed by 
regulatory authorities.  The list of food products implicated in listeriosis outbreaks has been updated.  
(c) The compliance action decision tree, including environmental testing for Listeria  
spp. and end-product testing for L. monocytogenes , has been modified to include 
more details related to sampling.  
(d) It is now stated that an environmental monitoring programme should be included in 
all plants used in the production of RTE foods, as defined in the policy.   
(e) Recommendations which encourage the use of post-process lethality treatments 
 and/or L. monocytogenes  growth inhibitors are provided to industry. G/SPS/N/CAN/484 
Page 2  
 
  (f) There is an increased focus on outreach  with the federal/provincial/territorial 
community to increase awareness of the pot ential risks of foodborne listeriosis and 
to provide guidance on how to reduce the risks of acquiring listeriosis to personnel in institutions where high-risk people may be exposed. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[  ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other 
damage from pests.    
8. Is there a relevant international stan dard?  If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex standard 
or related text) Codex Alimentarius Commission.  (2009).  Proposed Draft 
Microbiological Criteria for Listeria monocytogenes  in ready-to-eat foods. - 
Alinorm 09/32/13 - Appendix II  - Step 5-. Available in English and French: 
 http://www.codexalimentarius.ne t/download/repor t/714/al32_13e.pdf  (English) 
 http://www.codexalimentarius.ne t/download/report/714/al32_13f.pdf  (French) 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[ ] None Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
 [X] Yes   [ ] No 
 If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:    
9. Other relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:   
The 2004 Policy on  Listeria monocytogenes  in Ready-to-Eat Foods is available in English 
and French from Health Canada's Website:  
"http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-
an/legislation/pol/policy_listeria _monocytogenes_politique_toc-eng.php " (English) 
"http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-
an/legislation/pol/policy_lister ia_monocytogenes_politique_toc-fra.php " (French)   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  3 November 2010 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  3 November 2010 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  The 2004 version of the Policy on Listeria monocytogenes  in ready-to-eat 
foods will remain in effect until early 2011 to allow for a transition period for implementation.  The new policy will come into effect on 1 April 2011. 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure    G/SPS/N/CAN/484 
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  12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  Not applicable 
Agency or authority designated to handl e comments:  [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:    
13. Texts available from:  [ ] National Notification  Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:    
The electronic version of the policy can be downloaded:  
http://members.wto.org/crnattach ments/2010/sps/CAN/10_4322_00_e.pdf  
http://members.wto.org/crnattach ments/2010/sps/CAN/10_4322_00_f.pdf